University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes

A literal reprint of the earliest complete copy (1517) with variant readings from the editions of 1509, 1554, and 1555 together with introduction notes, glossary, and indexes: By William Edward Mead

collapse section 
collapse section 
collapse section 
  
 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IIII. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
 XII. 
 XIII. 
 XIIII. 
 XV. 
 XVI. 
 XVIII. 
 XIX. 
 XX. 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 XXIII. 
 XXIIII. 
 XXV. 
 XXVI. 
 XXVII. 
 XXVIII. 
 XXIX. 
 XXX. 
 XXXI. 
 XXXII. 
 XXXIII. 
 XXXIII. 
 XXXV. 
 XXXVI. 
 XXXVII. 
 XXXVIII. 
 XXIX. 
 XL. 
 XLI. 
 XLII. 
 XLII. 
 XLIIII. 
 XLV. 
 XLVI. 
The excusacyon of the auctore. Ca. xlvj.

The excusacyon of the auctore. Ca. xlvj.

Vnto all poetes I do me excuse
Yf that I offende for lacke of scyence
This lytell boke yet do ye not refuse
Though it be deuoyde of famous eloquence
Adde or detray by your hye sapyence
And pardon me of my hye enterpryse
Whiche of late this fable dyde fayne and deuyse
Go lytell boke I pray god the saue
Frome mysse metrynge / by wronge Impressyon
And who that euer lyst the for to haue
That he perceyue well thyn entencyon
For to be grounded withoute presumpcyon
As for to eschewe the synne of ydlenes
To make suche bokes I apply my besynes

224

Besechynge god for to gyue me grace
Bokes to compyle of morall vertue
Of my mayster lydgate to folowe the trace
His noble fame for to laude and remeue
Whiche in his lyfe the slouthe dyde eschewe
Makynge grete bokes to be in memory
On whose soule I pray god haue mercy